Miter-box.



PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

I No. 7665795.

F. H. RICHARDS.

MITER BDX.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.2. 1903.

2 SHEBTS-SHBET 1.

no 110mm.

\ l I I PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

P. H. RICHARDS.

MITER BOX.

APPLIGATION FILED 0012, 1902.

2 fiHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OEErcE.

FRANCIS'H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANLEY RULE & LEVEL COMPANY, OF NEiV BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MlTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,795, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed October 2, 1903. $erial1l0. 176,426. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. Rrormnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Miter Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to and has for an object to provide an improved miter-box.

In wood-sawing machines, such as miterboxes, it is found practical to support the work upon a table and position it thereon by a back plate or flange and to securely guide a saw relative to such table and back plate, the guiding means being shiftable from place to place thereon and adapted to be securely locked in the adjusted position. To give ample means for so adjusting and locking the saw-guiding device, the present invention is a material improvement over the art as it now exists and which will be more clearly understood by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, wherein Figure 1 shows a top view of a miter-box constructed to embody the present improvement and wherein the board of the table is broken away to show the parts below. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof with the guide-rods I and guide broken. Fig. 3 is a central crosssection showing one of the guides broken and the beam-arm also broken. Fig. 4 is a top View, enlarged, of one end of the beam-arm. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section thereof, showing the actuator in side view. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 4: looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7 looking downward or in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 9 shows the same parts shown in Fig. 6, but in a different position; and Fig. 10 is a similar view of Fig. 7, showing the sameamount of shaft rotation as does Fig. 9.

The main frame of the box is shown as comprising a bottom plate 20, supported by suitable feet 21, secured thereto by screws 22, and

a back plate 23, which may be rigid with the bottom plate. Upon the bottom plate is shown a table or board 2A, upon which the work will rest and be positioned by the back plate, which has a saw-opening 25. The saw will be carried by a frame which may include a beam-arm and appropriate saw-guides, which frame may have for a base thestructure shown herein and in the present instance by a swiveled beam-arm 30, pivoted by a screw 31 to a hub 32, located below the saw passage-way. The

frame is shown as having a protruding portion 33, in the present instance arc-shaped, having its center at the line of the axis of the beam-arm. Such segment is shown as provided at its under side with a series of index holes or notches 34, which in the present instance are located at various degrees from the normal central line or the angle of ninety degrees from the back plate and which will per' mit the saw to cut when located by such index at various angles. The present arrangement and designation of the angles show them designated from such central line, so that the hole marked 60 will be sixty degrees from such line or thirty degrees from the workpositioning face ofthe back plate. The beamarm may be provided with an index-pin 35, which may be called an indexer and may be a bolt of any convenient form and which will mate with said notches and be located the rcby at the desired position. The beam-arm may also be provided at each end with a sawguide (designated in a general way by 36) and comprising a pair of guide-rods 37, supportingguide-cylinders 38, which have a saw passage-way 39 to guide and control the saw. The segment is shown as having a rearwardlyprojecting flange l0, upon which is a guiding and clamping face etl, in the present instance projecting upwardly, and an opposite or downwardly-projecting face 4:2 to cooperate with a guiding-face 43 upon the beam-arm and through which guiding-faces, respectively, the index-holes open and the index-pin will operate. A suitable clamp may be carried by the beam-arm to engage such clamping-face 4:1 and draw the guiding-faces together, which parts.

clamp in the present instance is shown as comprising a lever 45, which has a clamping-head 46 to run upon the clamping-face 41 and is pivoted at 47 to the beam-arm and having an actuatingend48 projectingtherebeyond. The clamp in the present organization is controlled by a rotary or oscillatory member, which membermay be a shaft-actuator or an actuator in the form of a shaft, in the present instance comprising a rock-shaft 49, mounted in suitable bearings 50 of the beam-arm and having a winged head 51 for its actuation. It will be observed that the working face of the clamping-rail is at all times protected from injury and from the accumulation of dirt and that the clamping member is also protected and is so positioned relatively to the other parts of the apparatus that it occupies a position out of the way of the work and of the other Its longer end projecting inwardly places it in a position where it may be constructed of any desired length without cramping or inconvenience to the structure. A spiral spring 52 surrounds a portion of such rockshaft and engages a collar 53 fast upon it, the other end of the spring engaging one of the bearings. The end of the rock-shaft is provided with a cam 54 to engage the end 48 of the lever, which cam is seen in cross-sec tion in Figs. 6 and 9. When the rock-shaft is held at idle position responsive to its spring, it will hold the clamp securely in its clamping position and bind the clamp-faces of the frame and beam-arm together, whereby the beam-arm will be held from oscillation upon its axis.

The rock-shaft also has a cam 55, as seen more clearly in Figs. 7 and 10, which cam in the present instance is made by cutting or channeling the rock-shaft, whereby it will engage a face on the index-pin (illustrated as a lug 56) and withdraw the same. There is as the parts are arranged in this illustration a certain amount of lost movement between the cam and the lug, whereby the clamp may be partially released before the withdrawal of the index-pin. The pin is shown as carrying an engaging face, WhlCll may be a lug 57 runningin a channel 58 in the beam-arm, in which.

channel will be seated a spiral spring 59 to throw thepin into its working position. The pin is also provided with a face 60 concentric with the face 61 of the shaft, whereby after the withdrawal of the pin further rotation of the rock-shaft will hold it in its withdrawn position and will also hold the clamp in its relaxed position. As at present constructed the cam 54 is supported by one of the bearings 50, which will be locatedimmediately adjacent thereto, and the cam for the index-pin will be .supported in a similar manner, the index-pin channel or socket being located in the upper portion of one of such bearings.

hen it has been determined at what angle the saw ,is to make its out, the rock-shaft will .be rocked so as to release the clamp and with-.

draw the index-pin from the hole it then 06- cupies, and the'beam-arm may then be swung upon its pivot. When the workman sees that the same is approaching the desired angle, he may release the rock-shaft slightly to the influence of its spring and permit the index-pin to come within the influence .of its spring, but holding the clamp from its full clamping action, whereby slight friction will be given to the beam-arm, and the pin will be free to enter the hole, after which of course the workman may release his hand from the rockshaft and the spring will permit the clamp to become active. The clamp and the pin in this present instance perform their respective and combined work on substantially the same general principles as in the structure made the subject of my application for United States Letters Patent executed by me on the 2d day of October, 1903, and bearing Serial No.

175,421; but in the present instance the parts are illustrated as controlled by a rotary instead of a reciprocatory actuator,as illustrated in the other application. In the former instance a lever-actuator was employed, whereas in the present instance I employ a shaftactuator, which in the form herein illustrated is common to both the bolt and the clamp. The actuation of the controlling rod first slightly releases the clamp, then commences the withdrawal of the bolt or index-pin, during which withdrawal the clamp is further relaxed. The bolt is in its withdrawn position at the time of relaxation of the clam p,and upon the release of the actuator to its spring, but while under the control of the workman, the clampwill become active and slightly bind the parts; but the actuator may be held in such position that the index-pin will respond to its spring and enter a hole, after which the clamp upon being'released to the full influence of the spring applied to it or its actuator will become active to its fullextent. The indexpin not only serves as an index, but also as a bolt cooperating with the clamp, and such index-pin also acts as a precisionizer, which latter function may be performed when the clamp is held from its clamping action, but the index-pin is free to respond toits spring. The pin will when the clamp is brought to its general position enter one of its holes and by slightly moving such arm precisionizethe same. Such preclsionizlng could not be done if the clamp was held at a full clamping strength sufficient to lock it in position.

The pin or bolt and clamp are controlled by the same mechanical member, here shown as a rock-shaft, and by the same movement of such member; but at different degrees of its angular advance various concurrent results will be accomplished. The clamp is permitted or caused to release or modify its grip on the withdrawal of the bolt, and upon the release of the bolt to the influence of its spring the clamp will become stronger in its grip. At

asav rs the incipient stage of bolting the grip of the clamp is weak and increases as the-bolt enters the bolt-hole---that is, if the beam is brought to substantially the correct position before the return rotation of the rock-shaft.

The apron and truss-frame shown and described in this application are claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 175,425, filed October 2, 1903, and the cooperating index-pin and clamping means herein shown and described are broadly claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 175,421, filed October 2, 1903.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a miter-box, the combination with a frame to position the work, of saw-guides; a beam pivoted to the frame and carrying the guides; a series of index-holes on the frame corresponding to the positions at which the beam will in practice generally be halted; an index-pin carried by the beam to enter said holes; a rock-shaft to actuate the pin; and a clamping member under the control of said rock-shaft to lock the beam when positioned by the pin.

2. In a miter-box, the combination with a frame to position the work, of saw-guides; a

to lock the beam when positioned by the pin.

3. In a miter-box, the combination with a frame to position the work, of saw-guides; a beam pivoted to the frame and carrying the guides; a series of index-holes on the frame corresponding to the relative. positions at which the beam will in practice generally be halted; an index-pin carried by the a beam to enter said holes; a shaft-actuator to actuate the pin; a clamping-rail upon the frame; a clamping-lever pivoted to the beam and having a face to run upon said rail; and a face upon said shaft-actuator to control said lever.

4:. In a miter-box the combination with a frame, of a saw-carrying beam pivoted to the frame; an index-bolt carried by the beam; a

series of index-notches on the frame; a clamping-lever also carried by the beam; and an actuator-shaft carried by the beam and having faces to actuate the bolt and the clamping levers respectively.

5. In combination with a miter-box, a beam to carry a saw; a clamp to secure the beam; a rock-shaft to control the clamp; bolt-holes on the box; a bolt-socket in the beam; a bolt mounted therein and comprising a pin and a body portion; a spring bearing-face at the end of the body adjacentto the pin; a springchamber adjacent to the bolt-socket; a spring iillGlOilltO throw the bolt; a bearing-face on the other side of the body at the opposite end thereof; and a cam on the rock-shaft to. engage said latterbearing-face and draw the bolt.

6. The combination with a miter-box, of a saw-guiding frame carried thereby; index-pin holes on the box; an index-pin carried by the frame to mate with such holes; a clamping-lever carried by the frame; a rockshaft carried thereby and having a cam-face to control said clan'iping-lever; a bearing-face on the index-pin; a cam-face on the shaft to engage said bearing-face and draw saidpin; and a locking-face on the rock-shaft to hold the pin in its withdrawn position during part of the clamp-releasing rotation of the rockshaft. it

7; In a miter-box, the combination with a frame; a saw-carrying beam pivoted to the frame; a series of index-pin holes on the frame; an index-pin carried by the beam; a clamping-lever also carried by the beam; and a rock-shaft having fixed bearing-faces to actuate the pin and clamping-lever respectively.

8. In combination with a miter-box, of a beam to carry a saw; a clamping-block to secure the beam; a rock-shaft; a spiral cam thereon to control the bloc r; bolt-holes on the box; a bolt-socket in the beam; a bolt mounted therein and comprising a pin and a body portion; a spring-receiving lug at the end of the body adjacent to the pin; a springchamber adjacent to the bolt-socket; a spring therein to throw the bolt; a lug on the other side of the body at the opposite end thereof; and a cannon the rock-shaft having an idle face to clear the lug to permit idle movement to the cam, an engaging face to engage said ]ug and draw the' bolt; and a concentric face to hold the bolt drawn during the continued action of said spiral cam.

9. In combination with a miter -box, a saw-guiding frame pivoted thereto; bolt-holes on the box; a bolt carried by the frame; means to throw the belt; a clamping-face on the box; a clamping member carried by the frame; a rock-shaft to withdraw said bolt and relax said clamping device; and meansto return said roclcshaft to its normal position whereby the cla'mpingmember is rendered positive inits action and the bolt permitted to respond to its individual throwing means.

10. In combination with a miter-box, a frame pivoted thereto and organized to guide a saw; a clamping-lever to hold the frame in its adjusted position; a rock-shaft; means to hold the rock-shaft in its normal position; and a cam on the rock-shaft to actuate the elampingdeverand adapted to hold the same at its work when the rock-shaft is in its normal position. i

11. In combination with a miten box, a sawguiding frame shi ftable thereon; bolt-holes on the box; a bolt carried by the frame; means to throw the bolt; engaging guiding-faces-on the box and frame; a clamping-face on the box adjacent to the guiding-face and toward the opposite direction; a clamping member carried by the frame and running upon the clampingface; a rock-shaft to withdraw said bolt and relax said clamping member; and means to re turn said rock-shaft to its normal position.

12. In combination with a miterbox, a frame pivoted thereto and organized to guide a saw; a clamping-lever to hold the frame in its adjusted position; a rock-shaft; means to automatically return the rock-shaft to its normal position and hold the same thereat; and a cam on the rock-shaft to actuate the clampinglever and adapted to hold the clamp in its gripping position when the rock-shaft is in its normal position.

' 13. In combination with a miter-box, a

beam-arm pivoted thereto and carrying sawguides; a member to precisionize the position of the beam-arm; a clamping-lever to hold the same at an adjusted position; a rock-shaft; means to automatically return the rock-shaft to its normal position and hold the same thereat; and cams on the rock-shaft to actuate said member and lever and adapted to normally hold the clamp in its gripping position. 14. In combination with a miter-box embodying a table, of a beam-arm to carry a sawguide and pivoted thereto; a clamping-block to secure the beam-arm relative to the worktable; a rock-shaft to control the block; boltholes on the box; a bolt-socket in the beamarm; a bolt mounted therein and comprising a pin and a body portion; a spring-bearing at the end of the body adjacent to the pin; a springchamber adjacent to the bolt-socket; a spring therein to throw the bolt; a face on the body at the opposite end thereof; and a cam on the rock-shaft to engage said face and draw the b0 t.

15. The combination with a miter-box, of a saw-guiding frame pivot-all y supported thereby; index-pin holes on the box; an index-pin carried by the frame to mate with such holes; means to throw the pin; a clamping member carried by the frame; a rock-shaft carried thereby and havinga cam-face to control said clamping member; a lug on the index-pin; a cam-face on the shaft to engage said lug and draw said pin; a locking-face on the rockshaft to hold the pin in its withdrawn position during part of the clamp-releasing rotation of the rock-shaft; and a face to release the pin to the influence of its throwing means during the partial clamping action of said member.

16. In combination with a miter-box embodying a work-table; a beam-arm pivotally carried thereby; a precisioniZing-pin carried by the beam-arm; means to throw the pin; a rock-shaft; a cam on the rock-shaft to draw the pin; means to clamp the beam-arm; and means in the control of the rock-shaft to modify the clamping action during the precisionizing ac tion.

17. In a miter-box the combination with a work-table, of a beam-arm pivoted thereto and adapted to swing thereunder; a guide-face on the lower side of the table; a guide-face upon the upper side of the beam and adapted to engage the guide-face upon the table; an indexer carried by the beam; recesses upon the table for the engagement of the indexer; a clamp carried by the arm and adapted to clamp the guide-faces together; and a rotary actuator common to both the clamp and the indexer to operate the same.

18. In a miter-box, the combination with a frame to position the work, of saw-guides; a beam pivoted to the frame and carrying the guides; a series of index-holes on the frame corresponding to the positions at which the beam will in practice generally be halted; an index-pin carried by the beam to enter said holes; arock-shaft to actuate the pin; aclamping member under the control of said rock shaft to lock the beam when positioned by the pin; and means for yieldingly impelling the pin to engage the index-hole when the rockshaft operates to close the clamp.

19. In a miter-box, the combination with a frame to position the work, of saw-guides; a beam pivoted to the frame and carrying the guides; a series of-index-holes on the frame corresponding to the positions at which the beam will in practice generally be halted; an index-pin carried by the beam to enter said holes; a rock-shaft to actuate the pin; means to actuate the rock-shaft; a clamping member under the control of said rock-shaft to lock the beam when positioned by the pin; and means for yieldingly impelling the pin to engage the index-hole when the rock-shaft operates to close the clamp.

20. In a device of the character specified, the combination with a frame; of a saw-carrying beam pivoted to the frame; an index carried by the beam; a series of index-engaging faces upon the frame; a clamping-lever carried by the beam; a rotary actuator carried by the beam and having faces to actuate the index and the clamping lever respectively; and means independent of the actuator to impel the index to engage the index-faces when the actuator operates to close the clamp.

21. In a miter-box, the combination with a frame; a saw-carrying beam pivoted to the frame; a series of index pin holes on the frame; an index-pin carried by the beam; a clamping-lever also carried by the beam; a rock-shaft having fixed bearing-faces to actuate the pin and clamping-lever respectively; and means for yieldingly impelling the pin to engage the index-hole when the rock-shaft operates to close the clamp.

22. In combination with a miter-box embodying a work-table; a beam-arm pivotally carried thereby; a precisionizing-pin carried by the beam-arm; holes for the pin; means to throw the pin; a rock-shaft; a cam on the rock-shaft to draw the pin; means to clamp the beam-arm; means in the control of the rock-shaft to modify the clamping action during the precisionizing action; and means for yieldingly impelling the pin to engage the index-hole when the rock-shaft operates to close the clamp.

23. In a miter-box the combination with a frame to position the work, of saw-guides; a beam pivoted to the frame and carrying the guides; a series of index-recesses on the frame corresponding to positions at which the beam may in practice be halted; an index carried by the beam to engage said recesses; a shaftactuator to actuate the index, a clamping member under the control of said actuator to lock the beam when positioned by the index; and means for yieldingly impelling the index to engage the recesses when the actuator permits the clamp to close.

24. In a miter-box the combination with a frame, of a saw-carrying beam pivoted to the frame; an index carried by the beam; a series of index-recesses on the frame; a clamping member also carried by the beam; a rotary actuator having fixed bearing-faces to actuate the index and clamping member respectively; and yieldable means to impel the index to engage the recesses when the actuator operates to close the clamp.

25. In a miter-box the combination with a table, of a saw-gniding device shiftable therei on; a clamping-lever carried by said. device; an independent positive actuator for said clamping-lever; and a clamping-rail for the engagement of said clamping-lever and carried by the frame and having a Working face directly engaged by said clamping-lever directed upwardly and protected by said frame.

26. In a miter-box the combination witlia table having a portion to position the work, of a beam-arm pivoted thereto; saw-guides carried by the beam-arm; a lever pivoted to thebeam-arm and having a clamping-face; a rail carried by the table and having a clamping-face disposed below the lower side of the table, directed toward the same and covered thereby; and a rotary actuator for said lever.

27. In a miter-box, the combination witha table to carry the work, of saw-guides and a beam-arm to carry the same shiftable about said table; an indexer carried by the beamarm; an indexupon the table; a rail carried by the table and having a clamp-engaging face covered by the said table; a lever carried by the beam-arm having a clamping-face at one end engaging the face of the rail and having its other end project inwardly beneath the table; an actuator adapted to engage such latter end of said lever to actuate the same, and to engage the indexer to actuate the same.

28. The combination with a frame, of sawguides; a beam-arm carrying the guides and pivoted to the frame; an index on-the frame; an indexer on the beam-arm; an actuator to withdraw said indexer from the index; yieldable means to control the actuator; a clamping-face on the frame; and a lever pivoted on the beam-arm and having a face to engage said clamping-face and having a face to be engaged by said actuator to press said clampingfaces together at the release ofthe indexer and to unclamp the same upon the withdrawal of the indexer.

Signed at Nos. 9 to 15 Murray street, New York, N. Y., this 19th day of September, 1903.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

.Witnesses:

CHAS. LYON RUSSELL, FRED. J. DOLE. 

